The formalization of Thailand’s key broadcast regulatory body, the National Broadcasting Commission of Thailand (NBTC), marks a major transformation in the country’s media landscape.
The NBTC takes up the role formerly fi lled by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), with two committees – one covering the telecommunication committee and a broadcasting committee. Its 11 commissioners set to guide the sector after years of half-hearted regulation.
Broadcasting committee member, Supinya Klanarong, a former media activist, in an interview with TV ASIA Plus, says the commission’s tasks range from frequency allocation to auctions for ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ generation wireless broadband technology.
Thailand’s frequency airwaves both for radio and TV have long been controlled by the State and Armed Forces. Industry observers said such mechanisms led to charges of corruption.
“Maybe we cannot take all the frequencies from the army, to be honest, but at least we can negotiate something back, we can liberalize and have some frequency reserved for the non-profi t sector,” Klanarong said.
In 2012 the NBTC’s plan will be to see the introduction of full digitalized broadcasting, replacing the existing analogue systems. “Next year we plan to urge Thailand to go digital; everyone has to change,” she said.
She says the other challenge is how to create “fair and free competition”. “This is something Thailand has never had before – a frequency auction that was transparent because in the past it has been a system where close (business) connections counted for such a long while,” Klanarong added.
Through the auctions the NBTC will need to oversee auctions for 3G and 4G bands and also for licenses for radio and TV stations. “It’s not going to be easy but we have to do that. So it’s the fi rst time ever in Thailand.”
The next part will be to create content regulation. “I think this is the most controversial and diffi cult one,” said Klanarong. “Content regulation means having to fi nd a middle ground upholding freedom of expression and also social responsibility, national security and public moral…I think this is the toughest task that I have to – we have to do.”
Thailand’s broadcast industry has welcomed NBTC’s arrival. BEC World’s vice president, Chatchai Thiamtong, believes the benefi ts will be across the board. “We believe that the NBTC will provide a lot of benefi t to the industry. The fi rst, and the obvious one, is the accountability and the transparency of the regulatory body.”
“The NBTC will be the sole regulatory body and also be accountable and also answer to whatever that is happening in the industry so nobody is able to deny responsibility anymore,” he said.
